Corning — State Senator Tom O’Mara (R,C,I- Big Flats) and Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C,I-Corning) said today that area counties, cities, towns and villages will receive significant increases in state funding for local roads through the first round of allocations awarded through the PAVE-NY program, which was established as part of the 2016-17 New York State budget.

In a joint statement, O’Mara and Palmesano said, “We’ve been working hard on this, session after session since 2013 and so it’s very gratifying that this year’s state budget begins to take the kind of action that’s absolutely needed for local transportation infrastructure. After five years, beginning in 2008, when state support for local roads and bridges remained stagnant, the state’s recognition over the past several years, and especially this year, of the importance of CHIPS and parity in statewide transportation funding will continue making a significant difference for our local governments, local economies, local property taxpayers and motorist safety locally and statewide. We will continue to work with Governor Cuomo, our legislative colleagues and local highway superintendents and leaders across this region and state on this vitally important challenge and priority, but this year’s budget marks an important move forward. The improvement and upkeep of local roads and bridges is a wise use of taxpayer dollars. Every additional dollar of state support means a dollar less that our local property taxpayers have to pay. It’s also an important investment in economic growth and job creation throughout the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes regions, and all across New York. We’ll keep working and building on it.”

O’Mara and Palmesano said that for the first time since 2010, this year’s state budget provided parity in funding between the five-year state Department of Transportation (DOT) and Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) capital plans, with each plan slated to receive approximately $27 billion.

The 2016-17 budget also provided $438 million in direct funding for the Consolidated Highway Improvement Program (CHIPS) while an additional $400 million ($100 million a year over four years) of funding for local roads will also be allocated through the CHIPS funding formula from the newly established PAVE-NY program for local roads.

Another $400 million from a new BRIDGE- NY program for local bridge projects will also be allocated statewide with local input. Combined, the funding will provide significant increases to counties, cities, towns and villages across the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes regions, and statewide for local roads and bridges.

The first round of $100 million in PAVE-NY funding is being awarded to nearly 1,600 municipalities statewide. On top of this year’s CHIPS funding, which provided increases of more than 10% for regional counties, local counties and cities (see the attached chart for a complete listing of funding awards for counties, cities, towns and villages) are receiving the following funding increases under the just-announced PAVE-NY allocations:

• Chemung County will receive a combined, countywide total of $933,581.63. The county’s share is $377,172.89 and the city of Elmira is awarded $181,636.68. Towns and villages in Chemung County will receive a combined total of $374,772.06;
• Schuyler County will receive a combined, countywide total of $488,629.12. The county’s share is $199,538.46. Towns and villages in Schuyler County will receive a combined total of $292,090.66;
• Steuben County will receive a combined, countywide total of $2,321,773.37. The county’s share is $1,011,150.07. The city of Corning is awarded $92,103.67 and Hornell receives $55,591.52. Towns and villages in Steuben County will receive a combined total of $1,162,928.11;
• Tompkins County will receive a combined, countywide total of $975,402. The county’s share is $462,033.47. The city of Ithaca is awarded $99,948.56. Towns and villages in Tompkins County will receive a combined total of $413,420.11; and
• Yates County will receive combined, countywide total of $565,668.89. The county’s share is $266,673.34. Towns and villages in Yates County will receive a combined total of $298,992.55.

Palmesano, who also represents a part of Seneca County, said that Seneca County’s combined, countywide PAVE-NY total allocation is $503,583.31. The county’s share is $234,199.35. Towns and villages in Seneca County will receive a combined total of $269,383.96.

O’Mara and Palmesano have partnered with local highway superintendents and other local officials from throughout New York over the past several years to lead the fight in the Legislature for fairer and stronger state support for local transportation infrastructure. It’s been a growing, bipartisan effort since 2013. Earlier this session O’Mara and Palmesano organized a bipartisan group of 130 senators and members of the Assembly, more than 60% of the entire Legislature, who joined county and town highway superintendents and other local leaders from throughout the state to call for increased support for local roads and bridges. They noted that local roads and bridges account for 87% of the roads, 52% of the bridges, and 48% of the vehicle mileage logged in New York State.

Their efforts helped increase CHIPS funding by $125 million from 2013 to 2015. They said that the 2016-17 state budget contains even more significant increases through PAVE-NY and BRIDE-NY and parity in transportation infrastructure funding statewide.

They pointed to all of these actions – parity in transportation funding, and driving significant, additional state aid to local municipalities through the CHIPS funding formula – as among the top achievements of the 2016 legislative session.

President of the New York State Association of Town Superintendents of Highways President and Town of Preble Highway Superintendent Jeffrey Griswold said, "The PAVE NY program will provide $100 million to local governments this year, and in each of the next three years, to invest in critical local infrastructure. Our membership is responsible for the safe operation of nearly seventy percent of the state’s public roads, a quarter of local bridges, and plowing not only this huge system but also a portion of the New York State Department of Transportation’s roads. Our association and the constituencies and communities we serve appreciate the support of our state elected officials who partner with us to ensure we provide the public with a safe and functional statewide transportation system; one that supports jobs and economic growth for our communities."

New York State County Highway Superintendents Association President and Hamilton County DPW Superintendent Tracy Eldridge said, "We commend the Governor and Legislature for initiating the PAVE NY program. This program will enable the Counties of this State to expand their paving programs, which is so desperately needed, and which will allow the citizens of this State to have safe roads to travel on."